Boycott Suggested

[northside lurker]

I would like to know how many people are employed in the city.  And of those, how many are residents of the affected areas of Boardman and Austintown townships.

[rusty river]

I agree. The whole concept of regionalism is a cooperative agreement amongst the various governments. Boardman and Austintown were not included in the development of the initial JEDD proposal. It was conducted (and paid for) by Youngstown without any outside input. Everyone seems to be willing to speak in favor of some sort of JEDD while the camera is on them, but only on their own terms.

I am embarrassed to admit that I currently live in Austintown, but I already avoid township businesses as much as possible. I see no problem with Youngstown residents doing the same. Have we forgotten that Austintown trustee Lisa Oles has called for a boycott of Youngstown and removal of county and federal government agencies from the city? (ron verb show and quoted in the vindy)

Ytown, did you attend the austintown community meeting? From the news coverage and pictures I've seen of it, it appears that it was attended mostly by an elderly population. How many of them are not working, and therefore would not be affected by an income tax?

Does anyone know where I can find information about how many Austintown residents are employed by the city of Youngstown, and who would benefit from a lower income tax?

After doing some research on US Census stats and Sperling's Best Places info, it appears that home values in Austintown have depreciated 1.84% since 2000, while homes in Youngstown have slightly increased in value. Austintown's population loss since 2000 is nearly 4 times that of Youngstown. Yahoo real estate lists future job growth in Austintown at NEGATIVE 6%.

Is there somewhere where we can verify this info with stats compiled by the township? Or doesn't the township track such info, as it seems trustees are more concerned with doing battle with Youngstown and making the evening news instead of acknowledging its own problems. Maybe the initial JEDD proposal was a bad deal. But why hasn't Austintown trustees compiled its own JEDD proposal? Or offered to collaborate (and share the costs) in putting together a new proposal that would benefit the two communities more equally?

[ytowner]

I like Jay a lot; he did it wrong. There are better ways to do JEDD's and Jay doesn't seem to realize his way of doing it will not work.

As an Austintown Resident, I personally do not like the fact of the income tax on the residents here to do what.... I like the JEDD's idea, but there has got to be a better way to do it!

[jay]

Some callers to a local radio talk show are suggesting a boycott of Austintown businesses because Austintown residents recently publically voted against the Youngstown JEDD proposal. 

Where is all this going?  Should Mayor Williams ease up on this effort?